STORY: Israel's ancient city Akko hosts dragon boat race
DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:43
LOCATION: Akko, Israel
CATEGORY: SPORTS/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the dragon boat race in northern Israel
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHULA BRINBERG, Dragon boat race participant
3. various of cultural activities

STORYLINE:

A dragon boat race was held in northern Israel on Friday, with hundreds of paddlers from 17 teams nationwide competing in the Mediterranean Sea.

Annually held in the thousand-year-old port city of Akko, the event was jointly sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Israel and the municipality.

Addressing the event, Liu Song, charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy, said the popularity of dragon boat racing worldwide lies in the fact that it embodies the spirit of teamwork, striving for progress, and aiming for excellence.

Saying the race is not only a sports event but also a platform for promoting economic and cultural activities, the Chinese envoy voiced his hope that people from the two countries will seek common ground while setting aside differences, and work hand in hand for common development.

"One of our main goals in organizing the event is to bring people of different backgrounds, ages and capabilities together, so as to promote understanding and solidarity between the two peoples," he added.

Loay Fares, an official in charge of coordinating the event from Akko municipality, said the dragon boat race serves as a bridge of understanding between people from Israel and China and has created a special bond among residents from different cultural backgrounds in Israel.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHULA BRINBERG, Dragon boat race participant
"I'm 73 years old. I'm paddling in the Jordan Valley Club. We are almost 50 women. We compete here twice a week. We train three times a week. It's very good for our health because we are very grown-up ladies. So it's good for our health. We do it with very good pleasure."

Also on Friday, cultural events such as dragon dance, Taichi, Chinese calligraphy and painting, were staged simultaneously with the dragon boat race.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem.
(XHTV)